Dean Hesselink

Dean Vilas Hesselink, born April 3, 1968, passed away on Friday December 30, 2022, at Sharon S.
Richardson Community Hospice after battling cancer the past five months.
Dean had such a kind spirit, a wonderful sense of humor and great laugh. Those who knew him
appreciated how funny he was. He was loved by many and his friends and family will miss those blue
eyes and smile.
He was an outdoorsman and an explorer. He wasn’t happy unless he was sitting in the woods or near a
river or stream enjoying nature. From childhood on, his favorite memories all seem to include a fishing
rod.
Besides fishing, Dean enjoyed panning for gold along Lake Superior and in California. He didn’t strike it
rich but he sure had fun looking. He loved picking nuts and blackberries up north with his mom and
making blackberry brandy that he shared with neighbors and friends.
After graduating from Oostburg High School, he served in the Armed Forces, after which he lived in a
number of states from the west coast to “Up North” and down south, and many places in between.
He enjoyed cooking and baking and worked as a cook in the food service industry most of his life.
He loved his dogs Jackson and Loki and missed them dearly these past few months.
Dean was preceded in death by: His parents, Vilas and Ellen Hesselink; and Grandparents: Edward and
Jennie Kaat and Irvin and Marie Hesselink.
Missing him are brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews: Jerry (Rosalie) Hesselink, Matthew
(Linda) Hesselink and daughter Summer, Sandra (Jack) Starr and daughter Heather (Cassi) and her son
Syd, Elizabeth (Dwayne) Pocian and daughters Kelly and Katie, and Gerilyn Perronne (Bernie) and
children Jamie, Kyle and Candace.
Following Dean’s wishes, cremation will take place and no services or visitation will be held.
Dean’s family would like to send special thanks to the nursing staff at Sharon S. Richardson Community
Hospice and St Lukes for the compassionate care given and respect that was shown to Dean.
The Suchon Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Plymouth is assisting the family. For online
condolences, please visit www.suchonfh.com.